Did you see the big “IRS Whistleblower” hearing this week? You probably didn’t, CNN and MSNBC ignored it live, ABC News didn’t bother mentioning it and even Fox cut away from it when The Five started because there’s news and then there’s ad sales they don’t want to blow out. But don’t worry, you didn’t miss much. Not that there wasn’t news, big news, to be had in the hearing, because there was. It’s just that it was buried under Democrats lying and Republicans grandstanding. If you want to know yet another reason how it is Republicans manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, look no further than that mess on Capitol Hill this week.
There’s a place for Congressional hearings, at least there used to be. There was a time when they were used to gather information to inform legislative decisions, or to expose corruption everyone knew was unacceptable. Now nothing is unacceptable, absolutely nothing. If some disgustingly corrupt act is committed by someone on “your team,” who cares?
If Hunter Biden had videos of himself murdering prostitutes, Jamie Raskin would declare they probably had it coming, and it’s a private matter anyway. These leftists truly are that disgusting.
Not a single Democrat at that hearing had any concern or serious questions for two career IRS employees who alleged the First Family has engaged in systemic corruption and tax evasion. They simply didn’t give a damn.
It wasn’t surprising that Democrats wouldn’t care, they didn’t care when Barack Obama sent the IRS after his political opponents or when Bill Clinton raked in a fortune in campaign contributions from the Communist Chinese government, including $200,000 laundered through a Buddhist Monastery populated by monks who’d taken a vow of poverty. Democrats simply do not care about corruption by Democrats any more than they care all the murders of Democrats by Democrats in Democrat-controlled cities. If something or someone can’t help them politically, they might as well not exist.
As disgusting as that is, it’s not surprising. It’s what Democrats have been for at least the last 50 years. The real problem is what Republicans have become.
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That hearing wasn’t ultimately worthless because of the witnesses, they were great, or the Democrats, who didn’t fail to be themselves. It was rendered mostly worthless because Republicans are simply horrible at messaging.
Maybe it’s because cable news only seems to have a group of about 15 Members of Congress they cycle through constantly? That leaves the rest to wither on the vine, making hearings be seen as more of an audition for cable news hits than information-exposing events?
Something has to explain why Republican after Republican asked essentially the same questions; why they each wasted time not only thanking the witnesses for being there, but pronouncing them heroes for doing so. You may think it rude that I’d suggest they skip the formalities, but each only had 5 minutes to ask questions, every second matter. Peacocking for the camera is a sign of narcissism and is not helpful.
What Republicans should do in hearings like this is every single member should cede their time to one or two Congressmen who understand how to question witnesses for maximum impact. Imagine if a skilled questioner had drilled down on the complete story with these witnesses. Morning Joe would’ve been lost to counter a thorough explanation of the entire story of how people who produce nothing raked in millions from industries they know nothing of and managed to avoid paying any taxes on that money for so long the statute of limitations ran out, meaning they’ve gotten away with it completely.
Instead, we got what? Marjorie Taylor Greene showing in-action nude sex pictures of Hunter Biden with likely trafficked, possibly under age (who knows?) prostitutes on television. Noting against MTG, they’re real pictures and Biden needs to be investigate for his part in human trafficking and possible child sex ring. (Because, honestly, would it surprise you at all?)
Yet, by showing those pictures you gave the left something to be outraged over; a distraction they desperately needed. All they’d had to that point was a few members whining about the arrest rate of black people and Donald Trump. In other words, these one-trick-ponies only had their one trick…until they were given a new one.
I get that these people want to be seen doing their jobs by their constituents, but their job is more than being seen on TV. It’s supposed to be accomplishing things, and in hearings getting information. They didn’t do any of that, at least not in any lasting way. They repeated themselves and bored their audience.
President Ronald Reagan famously said, “On my desk in the Oval Office, I have a little sign that says: There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit.” He was probably the last Republican with that mentality. Now it’s “I don’t really know or care what the point of this is, I just know if I come up with a good line there’s a chance I’ll get booked on Fox.”
If you ever find yourself wondering why we lose elections we should easily win, remember missed opportunities like this hearing.
Derek Hunter is the host of a free daily podcast (subscribe!) and author of the book, Outrage, INC., which exposes how liberals use fear and hatred to manipulate the masses, and host of the weekly “Week in F*cking Review” podcast where the news is spoken about the way it deserves to be. Follow him on Twitter at @DerekAHunter.
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